Negative Format

Negative Format is an EBM/trance band formed by Alex Matheu in 1996. For live performances, the band includes Rashree Patram and Brian Matson.

Early releases by the band were self-released and exhibited a more EBM and dance industrial sound. The second album, Result of a New Culture, was released by Zoth Ommog and Gashed and turned more towards a trance music sound which guided the direction of subsequent releases. After becoming frustrated working with various labels, Matheu formed Sector 9 Studios in 2002 along with Jasyn Bangert of God Module.

In 2000, the band toured the US with Flesh Field, God Module, and Cenobita.

In 2004, Alex created The Parallel Project, an album combining his music with the vocals of other industrial artists, including Salva Maine, Sandrine Gouriou, Ned Kirby, Tom Shear, Rashree Patram, Daniel Myer, Jennifer Parkin, Clint Carney, Darrin Huss, Courtney Bangert, Victoria Lloyd, Mark Jackson, Kristy Venrick, and G. Wygonik. In 2000, he released a song on Inception Records compilation 'Counterbalance Vol. 1' as Parallel titled Parallax featuring Ben Schingel and Daniel Paradise, this song was a precursor to The Parallel Project.

Negative Format created numerous remixes for bands such as Informatik, Aïboforcen, Psyche, Bruderschaft, Assemblage 23, and others.

Since 2008 Matheu also creates IDM under the moniker Distraub.